Throngs of students are expected to return to summer schools across Malta in the next few weeks, indicating that parents are less fearful of Covid-19 affecting their children, a number of summer schools have told The Malta Independent on Sunday.

With summer around the corner and Covid-19 cases dwindling, summer schools across Malta have been given the green light from the health authorities to re-open their doors as from 28 June.

Many private summer schools decided against this measure last year, and remained closed for the duration of the summer.

Skolasajf, which offered its services last summer, saw its applications down by half. The government-run summer school usually receives 12,000 applications every year, but only received 5,500 applications in 2020.

This newsroom was informed that applications for summer schools have markedly increased in comparison to the applications received for summer schools last year.

With this in mind, this newsroom asked four private summer schools what they expect their turnout this summer to be; if they have had an increased interest in their respective summer school programmes, and how they plan to ensure that their students have a fun summer while staying safe.

Skolasajf was also contacted, however it could not answer this newsroom’s questions.

 

‘At par with pre-Covid activity’

San Anton Summer Club has received an impressive response from students eager to return to the summer club, Head of Admissions, Communications and Development Maria Pia Galea told this newsroom.

“As predicted, we have had an overwhelming response to our San Anton Summer Club 2021 programme, which has almost already reached full capacity,” she said.

The fact that the club is not only restricted to San Anton School students has contributed to the positive public response, Galea added.

Head of Communications Sylvana Debono also reported a surge in students attending St Edward’s College Summer School this year.

“The response of parents to the Summer School at St Edward’s College is always substantial, no less so this year. Indeed, the numbers of applicants looks likely to be at par with pre-Covid activity,” she noted.

Not only has Debono noted a substantial turnout for this year’s summer school at St Edward’s College, but she added that there has been a greater interest in academia for the next scholastic year, so much so that the school is considering opening extra classes.

Esmeralda Zerafa, Senior Leader of Chiswick House School’s Summer Programmes told this newsroom that she noticed a significant jump in the summer school’s applications when compared to last year, where they received 280 students, aged between two and half and 10 years of age.

This year, the school had an increase of 140 students from last year, with 420 learners currently enrolled in the programme.

While Director of the international Helen O’Grady and The Fun Factory Alan Montanaro confirmed that there hasn’t been an increase in the number of students this year, he noted that “there is a marked increase in interest with our younger students and teens for this time of year.”

 

“Responsibility towards the wellbeing of our students’

San Anton School, St Edward’s College and Chiswick House School function as academic schools throughout the year, and they believe that their strict health measures throughout the scholastic term will reflect the guidelines they wish to implement in summer schools.

“We are not surprised that the school has seen considerable interest in the summer school programme since during the scholastic year we have gone the extra mile to ensure that children keep to their bubbles, remain socially distant and yet interact, learn, and develop as children should,” Debono said.

Galea echoed this sentiment when explaining why parents are facing less apprehension in sending their children to summer school this year.

“Parents have been reassured by our strict Covid protocols that they have experienced during normal term time and are therefore keen to allow their children to experience our summer programme after a brief hiatus, since the programme was not held in 2020,” Galea said.

Instead of students leaving the school for outings, the outing activities will be brought to the school, with service providers offering activities on school grounds. Activities will also take place in smaller groups to minimize the virus’ spread.

This will “allow participants to push their boundaries, while embracing new experiences and learning new skills in a safe and controlled environment,” Galea noted.

Chiswick House School Summer School will also work with small groups, Zerafa said, and that the school’s shaded outdoor spaces will be utilized for various exciting outdoor learning opportunities.

The Fun Factory has also taken big steps to ensure that students are kept safe this summer. Most notably, the summer school will be operating in new premises at Mosta Secondary School, which has larger rooms and open spaces, Montanaro notes.